Staff Email

New Zealand's Labour Party says if the Prime Minister John Key skips the Pacific Islands Forum it will leave a bad impression with other members.

Mr Key has announced he will not be attending the Forum leaders meeting in Palau at the end of July, as it is too close to New Zealand's general election in September.
His foreign minister Murray McCully will attend in his place.

This year's meeting is expected to discuss lifting Fiji's suspension, in light of its elections scheduled for later this year.

Labour's spokesperson for foreign affairs, David Shearer, says as New Zealand's leader, Mr Key should be there.

"We have had a pretty tough time with Fiji over the last few years. This is a make or break election coming up with Fiji. It is going to be a very very important conversation about what should happen to Fiji and New Zealand needs to be represented at the highest level."